Apparatus for supplying yarn packages of different colors automatically to a loom



July 14, 1964 p, sTUCKl 3,140,732

APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING YARN PACKAGES OF DIFFERENT COLORS AUTOMATICALLY TO A LOOM Filed Oct. 3, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2

July 14, 1964 STUCK] 3,140,732

APPARATUS FOR SUPPL G YARN PACKAG OF DIFFERENT COLORS AUTOMATICALLY TO A OM Filed 001;. 3, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG 3 FIG. 5

July '14, 1964 P. STUCK] 3,140,732

APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYINC YARN PACKAGES OF DIFFERENT Filed Oct. 5, 1961 July 14, 1964 P. STUCK] 3,140,732

APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING YARN PACKAGES OF DIFFERENT COLORS AUTOMATICALLY TO A LOOM Filed Oct. 3, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I III United States Patent 3,140,732 APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING YARN PACKAGES OF DIFFERENT COLQRS AUTOMATICALLY TO A LOOM Peter Stucki, Tann-Ruti, Zurich, Switzerland, assignor to Ruti Machinery Works Ltd, formerly Caspar Honegger, Zurich, Switzerland Filed Oct. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 142,555 Claims priority, application Switzerland Dec. 28, 1960 8 Claims. (Cl. 139-245) The present invention relates to a device for feeding bobbins of different yarn colors to a multi-compartment magazine of the automatic bobbin changer of a power loom for multicolored fabrics.

In known multicolor automatic looms, either only single-row magazines which can only accommodate a small reserve of fresh bobbins, can be positioned for feeding weft bobbins to the automatic bobbin changing apparatus so that the magazines have to be changed frequently, or the fresh bobbins with different yarn colors thereon are brought to the loom in large containers and must them be transferred manually into the individual compartments of the bobbin magazine of the automatic bobbin changer.

In the automatic looms for one-color fabrics, devices are known for delivering the fresh bobbins directly from large containers to the automatic bobbin changers. A principal object of the present invention is to make it possible to employ such devices for removing the bobbins or filled packages from large containers and deliver them to the respective compartments of a magazine of the automatic bobbin changer of automatic multicolor looms.

Other objects and features of the invention will be better understood from the claims, description and accompanying drawing, in which a number of embodiments of the subject of the invention are illustrative solely as examples.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention, and is illustrative of a rotary frame on which are supported a plurality of bobbin containers one of which is shown in section;

FIG. 2, is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3, is a section view of the drive of the rotary frame and is taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4, is a schematic of an electric circuit for control of the rotary frame illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5, is a schematic of an electric circuit for control of a hook gripper of the apparatus in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6, is an elevation view of a second embodiment of the device of the type illustrative in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7, is a plan view of another embodiment of the device according to the invention; and

FIG. 8, is a fragmentary perspective view on an enlarged scale of the drive illustrated in FIG. 3.

According to FIGS. 1 and 2, bobbin transferer 1 of a multicolor loom is in position to transfer, to a shuttle 2, a fresh weft bobbin 3. Below a bobbin magazine 4, comprising four compartments 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d, is disposed a feed channel 5 that receives bobbins from the magazine compartments and delivers them to the transfer position in which the bobbin 3 is diagrammatically illustrated. Above the bobbin magazine 4 is disposed a swingable channel 6 connected by rods 7, 8 to an eccentric 9. A spring 10 tends to pull the swingable channel 6 to the right in FIG. 1, and at the same time to press the rod 8 by means of rod 7 against an eccentric 9. Above the swingable channel 6 is disposed a stationary channel 11, into which the bobbins or filled packages 12 taken from large containers as later described, are conveyed. The means for conveying the bobbins 12 from a large container 13a to the channel 11 are described more fully in Us. Patent Application No. 21,625, new U.S. Patent 3,122,268 and comprises a slide 14 to which is fixed, by means of a cross-piece 15, a hook gripper 16 having a supporting foot 17 and a finger 18. The large con-- tainers 13a, 13b, 13c and 130. according to the first embodiment are each situated on a respective support on a rotary frame 19, which is rotatably mounted by means of a vertical spindle 26). The supports on which the fresh bobbin containers are held are each inclined relative to the horizontal downwardly as can be seen in FIG. 1. The eccentric 9 is fixed on the spindle 20 on which are secured four cam discs 21a, 21b, 21c and 21d and a ratchet 22. The eccentric 9 is configured to axially displace the two rods 7, 8 to position the channel 6 over the individual compartments of the loom magazine 4 in dependence which of the containers 13a13b is positioned for unloading. For example, when the container 13a is in the position illustrated, the channel 6 is positioned to discharge bobbins into the compartment 4a. Each container in unloaded into a respective compartment as later explained in detail.

According to FIGS. 3 and 8, a ratchet wheel 22 is mounted on the shaft or spindle 20. A pawl 24, biased away from the ratchet wheel 22 by a spring 24a, is connected by a rod 25 to the loom lay, not shown, and rotatably drives the ratchet wheel. Co-operating with the cam discs 21a to 21d are shown leaf springs 23a to 23d, which are pivotally mounted on a pivot 26, and which carry on their free end and a cam, for example a cam 27a on the. free end of leaf spring 23a, respectively adapted to engage coresponding recesses 28a 28b, 23c and 28d of the discs 21a to 21d respectively. The leaf springs 23a to 23d can be actuated by electromagnets 30a to 30a, in opposition to the action of pull springs, for example springs 29a and 290, against the cam disc 21a to lid for engagement in the above mentioned recesses of the cams arranged at the ends of the leaf springs. interposed between the leaf spring 23a and 23d and the pawl 24 are disposed a plurality of axially guided rods, for example rods 31, which prevent both the pawl 24 and a respective one of the leaf springs 23a to 23! from being simultaneously in engagement with the ratchet wheel 22 or one of the came discs 21a to 21d, respectively. It will be understood that in FIG. 8 for the sake of clarity only the cam disc 21a and 210 and their corresponding rods and springs are shown. The cam disc 21b and 21d and their associated parts are omitted.

In the bobbin magazine 4, in each of the compartments 4a to 4d, are disposed two feeders or sensors for the operation of contacts, for example, contacts 32a and 33a. FIG. 4 shows only two contacts 32a and 33a in compartment 4, however, each compartment has sensors and contacts and a circuit similar to that shown in FIG. 4. These contacts, which are for controlling the rotary frame 19, are connected in parallel in the circiut of a corresponding electromagnet for example, 3 0a, and are so constructed that when the respective compartment, for example compartment 4a is empty, the circuit is closed. When the correspondening compartment is full, the corresponding circuit is broken. The sensors for sensing the presence and absence of bobbins and actuating the contacts 32a and 33a are disposed near the top and bottom respectively of the comparatment 4a. The contacts are biased to a closed position.

According to FIG. 4 the electromagnet 34in is connected to a voltage source 34 in series with the contact 33a. A relay contact 35 is actuated when an operating coil 36 of the relay is energized. The contact 32a is connected in parallel with the contact 33a when the relay contact 35 is closed. The circuit comprises a capacitor 37 connected by-passing the relay coil 36 and relay contact 35. When the contacts 32a and 33a are open, the relay and the electromagnet 30a are not energized. When one or more bobbins have been transferred from the compartment to the shuttle 2 the upper contact 32a is closed but this has no effect on the electromagnet 30a and the relay since the relay and contact 35 remain open. If however, both contacts 32a and 33a are closed, when the compartment 4a is empty the electromagnet 30a and the relay coil 36 are energized and thus the relay contact is closed. If afterward fresh bobbins are filled into the compartment 4a the lower contact 33a is-opened first but the electromagnent 30a and the relay remain energized as long as the upper contact 32a is closed because the relay contact 35 is still closed. The purpose of the capacitor 37 is, when contact 33a is open, to prevent the relay from being energized in the event of a short-time opening of the contact 32:: caused by each bobbin failing into the compartment and striking the sensor of contact 32a.

The unloading device for the containers is operated by a motor 40 in a control circuit illustrated in FIG. 5. The circuit is provided with parallel-connected contacts 38 and 39a. As will be seen from FIG. 1, the contact 38 is normally closed in its res-t position and is opened by the cross-piece 15 when the hook gripper 16 is lifted to substantially its highest position above .the walls of the containers 13a and 13d. The circuit comprises contacts actuated by respective leaf springs 23a-23d. Only one of these contacts, 39a, is shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. These contacts are open in their normal position and are closed by a respective leaf spring when it engages in a peripheral recess of a respective cam 21a-21d.

The device described operates as follows:

Large containers 13a to 13d, with all the necessary yarn colors are placed on the rotary frame 19. As long as the compartments 4a to 4d of the bobbin magazine 4 are still empty, the contacts 32a and 33a or those comparable thereto are closed. The electromagnets, for example the electromagnet, 30a are energized and attract the leaf springs 23a to 23d and the pawl 24. The rotary frame 19 is driven off the lay by means of the rod 25, pawl 24 and the ratchet wheel 22, and rotates the discs 21a to 21d until, for example, the cam 27a engages the corresponding recess 28a of the disc 21a. The pawl 24 is thereby disengaged from the ratchet wheel 22 by means of the rod 31 and the rotary frame 19 is not rotated further. At the same time, the contact 39a is closed and hence the electric motor 40 is energized. The device for feeding the bobbins to the automatic bobbin changer is thus operated, and the hook gripper 16 removes the bobbins 12 one after the other from the large container 13a situated in the removal position, and fills the corre sponding compartment 4a of the bobbin magazine 4, since the position of the rotary frame 19 is coupled positively to the compartment 4a of the bobbin magazine 4 by means of the eccentric 9, rods 7, 8 and the swingable bobbin channel 6. Every time the hook gripper 16 reaches substantially its highest position the cross piece 15 opens the contact 38, but this is without effect since the contact 39a prevents the motor circuit from being interrupted.

As soon as the first bobbin falls into the compartment 4a, the upper contact 32a is opened for a short time but the coils 30a and 36 remain energized through contact 33a. When the first bobbin is at the bottom of the compartment 4a, the contact 33a opens, but the electromagnet 30a remains energised by means of the contact 32a which is still closed. Thus the leaf spring 23a continues to close the contact 39a and the motor 40 continues to operate. The bobbins falling past the upper contact 32a during the filling of the compartment, open the contact only for a short time, during which the relay coil 36 is energized by the capacitor 37. The removal device 1418 therefore continues to operate until compartment 4a is filled and the upper contact 32a is opened. The electromagnet 30a then releases the leaf spring 23a; the contact 39a therefore opens, but the motor 40 continues to operate until the contact 38 is opened by the cross-piece 15 in the highest position of the hook gripper 16, and the removal device 14-18 stops as soon as it opens the contact 38 in the corresponding position. At the same time, the rod 31 is released by the leaf spring 23a, and the pawl 24 is brought into engagement again with the ratchet wheel 22 by the other electromagnets 30b to 30d, under control of the circuits of the empty compartments 4b to 4d. The rotary frame 19 with the discs 21a to 21d will now continue to rotate until the next cam 27b of the leaf spring 23b engages the recess 28b of the disc 2117. One compartment after the other will thus be filled with bobbins.

If, during the weaving process bobbins are removed from the bobbin magazine one of the upper contacts of a given compartment, for example contact 32a will be closed; the relay 35, 36, however, prevents the electromagnet, 30a, 30b, 300 or 30d from being energized. Only when the compartment is completely empty will the lower contact, for example contact 33a close and the compartment concerned is filled up in the manner described.

According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the four large containers 13a13d are arranged vertically one above the other on a frame 119. The frame 119 is slidable and can be raised and lowered by means of a spindle traveling nut 50 secured to it and an axially stationary spindle 51, so that each of the containers 13a-13d can be brought Within range of the hook gripper 16 for removal of the bobbins 12. The drive of the spindle 51 for causing upward and downward travel of the traveling nut 50 is not shown. But the spindle is driven from the loom lay, not shown, in a manner similar to that before described.

The control of the frame 119 in accordance with the degree of filling of the individual compartments 4a-4d of the bobbin magazine 4 may be of exactly the same construction as in the first embodiment described.

Secured to the upper end of the spindle 51 is a bevel gear 52 meshing with a bevel gear 53, which in its turn is fast on a spindle 54. Mounted on the spindle 54 is a spindle nut 55' connected to the movable bobbin channel 6 by means of rods 56, 57.

By means of the bevel gears 52 and 53, the spindle 54, spindle nut 55 and rods 56, 57, the swingable channel 6 will be associated with the respective compartment of the bobbin magazine for each position of the frame 119, in which one of the large containers 13a to 13d comes within range of the hook gripper 16.

The embodiment of the frame 219 with the bobbin containers 13a-13d according to FIG. 7 differs from the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 merely by the fact that the containers are not arranged one above the other but in a row side by side. A spindle 51 is likewise provided for the horizontal displacement of the frame 219. The other parts for the control of the frame 219 and for the movement of the movable pirn channel 6 also correspond to those of the second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6.

Of course other arrangements of the large containers on a movable, slidable or rotatable frame are possible, whereby the containers can be brought within range of the hook gripper 16 for the removal of the pirns.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for supplying yarn packages automatically to a loom magazine, said magazine having a plurality of compartments for receiving yarn packages therein, said apparatus comprising a plurality of containers each for transporting a plurality of yarn packages to be loaded into a respective compartment in said magazine, means for automatically supplying said yarn packages from each container to a respective magazine compartment comprising unloading means to unload each of said yarn packages in a given container into a respective compartment, means positioned automatically to convey and divert the yarn packages from said unloading means to a respective compartment, means to automatically position said containers in position for unloading by said unloading means in dependence upon which compartment of said magazine needs yarn packages, means responsive to the presence and absence of yarn packages in the respective compartments, and means controlled by the last mentioned means for actuating said means for positioning said containers, said unloading means and for positioning said means to convey and divert said yarn packages in dependence upon which magazine compartment requires yarn packages.

2. Apparatus for supplying yarn packages automatically to a loom magazine, said magazine having a plurality of compartments for receiving yarn packages therein, said apparatus comprising a plurality of containers each for transporting a plurality of yarn packages to be loaded, into a respective compartment in said magazine, means for automatically supplying said yarn packages from each container to a respective magazine compartment comprising unloading means to unload each of said yarn packages in a given container into a respective compartment, means positioned automatically to convey and divert the yarn packages from said unloading means to a respective compartment, rotary means to automatically position said containers in position sequentially for unloading by said unloading means in dependence upon which compartment of said magazine needs yarn packages, means responsive to the presence and absence of yarn packages in the respective compartments, and means controlled by the last mentioned means for actuating said means for positioning said containers, said unloading means and for positioning said means to convey and divert said yarn packages in dependence upon which magazine compartment requires yarn packages.

3. Apparatus for supplying yarn packages automatically to a loom magazine, said magazine having a plurality of compartments for receiving yarn packages therein, said apparatus comprising a plurality of containers each for transporting a plurality of yarn packages to be loaded, into a respective compartment in said magazine, means for automatically supplying said yarn packages from each container to a respective magazine compartment comprising unloading means to unload each of said yarn packages in a given container into a respective compartment, means automatically positioned to convey and divert the yarn packages from said unloading means to a respective compartment, means to automatically position said containers in position for unloading by said unloading means in dependence upon said compartments having need of yarn packages, means responsive to the presence and absence of yarn packages in the respective compartments, and means controlled by the last mentioned means for actuating said means for positioning said containers, said unloading means and for positioning said means to convey 6 and divert said yarn packages in dependence upon which magazine compartment requires yarn packages.

4. A device for feeding bobbins of different yarn colors to a multi-compartment magazine of an automatic bob bin changer of a power loom for multicolored fabrics comprising, a movable frame for receiving a plurality of large containers with bobbins of different yarns, said bobbins being disposed in said containers in several layers loosely one above the other and adjacent one another, said containers being free of partitions, said containers in their discharging position have boundaries inclined to the horizontal, the bobbins tending to roll to the lowest point thereof under the effect of gravity, sensing elements in the compartments of said magazine for controlling the move ment of said frame, a channel for diverting the bobbins into the compartments of the magazine, a device for removing the bobbins from each of the large containers and for conveying the bobbins to the inlet of said bobbin channel, means for moving a portion of said bobbin channel for diverting bobbins removed from said large containers into the different compartments of the bobbin magazine in accordance with the different colors.

5. A device according to claim 1, comprising means for driving said frame by said loom, the last .mentioned means comprising a switch-on device comprising a ratchet wheel, a pawl and a lever operably controlling drive of said frame.

6. A device according to claim 1, comprising a driving shaft, a number of cam discs fastened on said driving shaft for moving said frame, each of said discs being associated with one of the containers situated on said frame and having a notch, for each disc a leaf spring having a cam associated with each cam disc, for each disc and electromagnet electrically coupled to said sensing elements of the corresponding compartment of the magazine, and a rod arranged axially displaceable between the leaf springs and the pawl for disengagement of the ratchet mechanism when a cam enters a notch of the cam discs.

7. A device according to claim 1, further comprising a rotary, vertically mounted shaft on which said frame is mounted for holding said containers arranged in a circle thereon.

8. A device according to claim 7, comprising means for coupling said frame to said movable portion of the channel, the last mentioned means comprising a driven eccentric and rods connected to said portion and displaceable in operation by said eccentric.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING YARN PACKAGES AUTOMATICALLY TO A LOOM MAGAZINE, SAID MAGAZINE HAVING A PLURALITY OF COMPARTMENTS FOR RECEIVING YARN PACKAGES THEREIN, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF CONTAINERS EACH FOR TRANSPORTING A PLURALITY OF YARN PACKAGES TO BE LOADED INTO A RESPECTIVE COMPARTMENT IN SAID MAGAZINE, MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY SUPPLYING SAID YARN PACKAGES FROM EACH CONTAINER TO A RESPECTIVE MAGAZINE COMPARTMENT COMPRISING UNLOADING MEANS TO UNLOAD EACH OF SAID YARN PACKAGES IN A GIVEN CONTAINER INTO A RESPECTIVE COMPARTMENT, MEANS POSITIONED AUTOMATICALLY TO CONVEY AND DIVERT THE YARN PACKAGES FROM SAID UNLOADING MEANS TO A RESPECTIVE COMPARTMENT, MEANS TO AUTOMATICALLY POSITION SAID CONTAINERS IN POSITION FOR UNLOADING BY SAID UNLOADING MEANS IN DEPENDENCE UPON WHICH COMPARTMENT OF SAID MAGAZINE NEEDS YARN PACKAGES, MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE PRESENCE AND ABSENCE OF YARN PACKAGES IN THE RESPECTIVE COMPARTMENTS, AND MEANS CONTROLLED BY THE LAST MENTIONED MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID MEANS FOR POSITIONING SAID CONTAINERS, SAID UNLOADING MEANS AND FOR POSITIONING SAID MEANS TO CONVEY AND DIVERT SAID YARN PACKAGES IN DEPENDENCE UPON WHICH MAGAZINE COMPARTMENT REQUIRES YARN PACKAGES. 